WILD BEAUTYWe meet one of Vietnam’s most determined orchid
enthusiasts

In olden times, wealthy folk liked to brew good tea and sit around
with their buddies waiting for their orchids to bloom at night. Raising orchids
was considered the height of elegance.

Each species of orchid boasts its own exquisite colors and
graceful shapes. Varieties such as Dendrobium Anosmum, Aerides and
Cypripedioideae fascinate us with their breathtaking perfume. Most urbanites
see orchids in flower markets, bonsai gardens or nurseries. Very few people are
able to venture into the highland forests and see orchids in their native
habitats. However Vietnam is home to some orchid fanatics who devote a great
deal of time and energy to orchid-hunting. Mr. Chu Xuan Canh is one of the
best-known orchid-enthusiasts in the country.

Working in
the non-governmental sector, Mr. Canh travels to many far flung regions. His
travels take him into areas rich in wild orchids. In contrast to orchids sold
in the cities, which are grown in mass, wild orchids are hard to find. They
grow high on old trees, hidden by thick foliage, or cling to steep cliffs. Once
found, the rewards are great. Wild orchids are stunningly beautiful and
healthy, in contrast to many cultivated orchids. Vietnam’s orchid species are
densely concentrated across the Northwest and the Central Highlands through the
Truong Son Mountains. Each location is home to different species that
are divided into 168 families and 1,179 species. There are species that bloom
once a year and species that bloom year round. However, most orchids bloom in
the springtime, dotting the woods in flamboyant colors. This is the prime time
for Mr. Canh to explore distant mountains.

In the regions he visits, Mr. Canh
asks the locals to keep an eye out for wild orchids. Traveling by bus, car,
motorbike and finally on foot, he roams far and wide in search of exotic
blooms. He endures daunting treks, gruelling climbs and unexpected encounters
with danger. He can still vividly recount his encounters with snakes and sun
bears and being torn by thorny bushes. In 2010, while gripping a cliff to take
photos, the ground crumbled and he fell. While he was lucky to escape injury,
his camera was smashed to pieces. In the flower fan community, he rose to fame
thanks to the number of floral species he has photographed and his documentary
photos of orchids. He is known for his adventurous expeditions and further
admired because a newly discovered orchid species was named after him. The
“Canh orchid”, scientific name Paphiopedilum canhii, was discovered in late
2009 and officially revealed to the public in May 2010. Paphiopedilum canhii
was discovered in Dien Bien, bringing the total Paphiopedium orchid species up
to 27. Not every orchid suitor has such an accolade.

Mr.
Canh has created his own orchid garden. Having erected a scaffold and installed
a simple mist-watering system, he seeded and grew his own orchids, tending them
like his own children. At its peak his garden had more than 500 orchid species
and was a favorite meeting place for other orchid enthusiasts. For orchid
lovers, each blooming orchid is a source of joy. As well as enjoying the
blooms’ beauty, Mr. Canh to his friends are helping to preserve the nation’s
biodiversity, thus enriching our lives with natural colors.